PHILADELPHIA, PA – Lawrence Little, Ph.D., associate professor of African American history at Villanova University will present the lecture, “Catholic Social Thought, Black Theology, and the Struggle for Civil Rights in America” on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the East Parlor, St. Joseph Hall. The lecture, held in commemoration of Black History month, is sponsored by the history program, the History Club, and Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society. 

Little’s talk will examine Catholic participation in the Civil Rights Movement, the intersection of Catholic social thought and black theology, and the continued utility of Catholic social thought in the struggle against racism.

Dr. Lawrence Little is currently an associate profes¬sor of African American history at Villanova University, Pa. where he has taught since 1993. His teaching areas include: African American History, American History, Racism and Race Relations, Civil Rights, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World History. Little has been published in The North Star, the Journal of Asian and African Studies and The Western Journal of Black Studies.

His book, “Disciples of Liberty: The African Methodist Church in the Age of Imperialism, 1884-1916,” examines African American reactions to global events and issues at the turn of the century. He currently is exploring the role of black line officers during the Philippine-American War, 1899-1903. Little received his undergraduate degree from Coppin State College in Baltimore, Md. and earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in American history from Ohio State University.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information,please contact Dr. Lorraine Coons at 215.248.7184 or e-mail lcoons@chc.edu.